Fuel feeder



Apr. 3, 1923.

R. c, NEWHOUSE FUEL FEEDER Filed Jan. 27, 1921 Patented Apr. 3, W23.

untrue stares E ATENT Jail.

IMNUFACTURING CUll/ITANY, OF MILWAUKEE. WISCONSIN, A CORPQEATIGN 6F DELAWARE.

FUEL FEEDER.

Application filed January 27, 1921. Serial 1T0. ie-once.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

\Be it known that RAY C. Newnousn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wauwatosa, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, has invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fuel Feeders, of which the This invention relates in general to improvements in the art of handling fluent materials, and relates more specifically to improvements in devices for controlling the transportation of. pulverulent materials such as powdered coal through a conduit or the like. I

An object of the invention is to-provide means for automatically controlling transportation of pulverulent materials such as powdered coal through a conduit or the like. Another object is to provide means for controlling the delivery of powdered coal or the like through a conduit in accordance with the delivery of compressed fluid through the same conduit. A further object is to provide a feeder for granular materials, the operation of which is dependent upon the operation of other devices remotely and indirectly associated with the feeder. Still another object is to provide a simple and ellicient feeder for powdered coal and the like. These and other objects of the invention will be apparent in the course of the following description.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of the operation of a device constructed in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic part sectional view of the combined fuel and air feeder, showing the same in inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic part sectional view of the combined fuel. and air feeder, showing the same in operation.

The feeder comprises generally a powdered coal hopper 2 having a horizontal discharge conduit 4: communicating with the lower portion thereof, an air blower 3 having a discharge nozzle 5 communicating with the delivery thereof, and a ining chamber or l'i conduit 5, communicati directly with the following is a specification.-

conduit 4 and with the nozzle 5. Within the horizontal conduit a, is located a screw conveyor 6 which is adapted to be rotated by means of a motor 10 connected with the con veyor shaft by means of gearing 11. Above the mixing conduit 7 and communicating therewith, is a chamber 8, the upper entremity of which is provided with an open mg through which communication between the chamberS and the atmosphere is controlled by means of a valve 9. The valve 9 is suspended from one of the depending ends of a cable 13, which is supported upon pulleys 14, the opposite depending end of the cable 13 being secured to a vertically movable switch member 15. The switch member 15 has contacts which are adapted to engage stationary contacts 16 in the electrical line 12, which controls the operation of the screw conveyor driving motor 10. Suspended from the lower end of the switch member 15, IS a weight 17, the switch member 15 and the weight 17 being of suflicient mass to substantially counter-balance the weight of the valve 9. A tension spring 18 coacting with the weight 17 and with a fixed support, normally urges the switch member 15 downwardly and out of engagement with the contacts 16, as shown in Fig. 1.

. In order to set the device in operation, t is necessary only to place the blower 3 in operation and to deliver a jet of air at relatively high velocity into the conduit 7, through the discharge nozzle 5. The air thus delivered into the conduit 4' establishes a partial vacuum or zone of reduced pressure in the chamber 8, thereby causing the va' 9 to open to the position indicated in Fig. 2, and permitting air to pass into chamber 8 and from thence to mingle with the air de llvered into conduit 7 through the nozzle 5. As the valve 9 is opened or moved downwardly, the switch member 15 and weight 17 are raised by virtue of the cable 13, tl'iereby stretching the spring 18 and bringing the switch member into engagement with the contacts 16. This movement of the switch member 1:") establishes an operating connec= tion in the line 12 for the motor 10, tion of which produces rotation of the set" conveyor 6 and delivers a substantially c ltinuons stream of powdered fuel .;u ply hopper or bin 2 through 4 and into the mixing conduit 7. In the conduit 7, the air and powdered fuel are thoroughly mixed, the flow of air carrying with it the fuel particles and the mixture being thusdelivered to the combustioncha-mbers of a furnace or other apparatus wherein the powdered fuel is to be utilized.

If, for any reason, the supply of compressed air to the nozzle 5 and hence to the mixing chamber 7 fails, the pressure in the chamber 8 rises and -the spring 18 immediately becomes efiective to pull the weight 17 and the switch member 15 downwardly and to simultaneously raise and close the valve 9. As the switch member 15 is pulled downwardly and away from the contacts 16, the supply of operating current to the motor 10 through the line 12 is interrupted, causing the motor to stopv and positively preventing further delivery of pulverized fuel through the horizontal conduit at to the'mixing chamber or conduit 7.

Such rise in pressure within the chamber 8 may also be caused by clogging of the conduit 7, in which event the air pressure resulting from the continued flow of air from the nozzle 5 into the conduit 7 will likewise raise the pressure in the chamber 8 and cause the valve 9 to close thereby stopping the'fuel feeder.

It will thus be noted that the supply of pulverized fuel to the mixing chamber or conduit 7 is automatically controlled by the delivery of compressed air to this conduit and its free passage therethrough. The proportions and design of the conduit 7, valve 9, weight 17 and spring 18 may be readily made such that the operation of the device is extremely sensitive and positive. While the invention has been shown and described as applied to a device for feeding and mixing powdered coal and air, it will be obvious that the principles involved are generally applicable to any device for mixin and transporting pulverulent materials am d fluids.

As the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described is relatively diagrammatic, it will be understood that it is ters Patent: a y 1. In combination, means forming a connot desired to limit the invention to the exact details of the structure shown and to the specific mode of operation of the device, for

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letduit, means for producing a How of fluid through said conduit, a flow actuated valve for controlling the admissionof air direct from atmosphere to said conduit, means for delivering pulverulent material to said conduit, and means for automatically preventing said delivery of material when said valve is closed.

2. In combination, means forming a conduit, means for producing a flow of fluid through said conduit, a valve normally opened by said flow to admit air direct from atmosphere to said conduit, means for delivering pulverulent material to said conduit, and means for automatically stopping said material delivery means when said valve closes.

3. In combination, means forming a conduit, means for producing a flow of fluid through said conduit, a flow actuated valve for admitting air direct from atmosphere to saidcondult, a feeder for delivering pulverulent material to said conduit, a motor for operating said feeder, and means for automatically stopping said motor when said valve closes.

4-. In combination, means forming a conduit, means for roducin a flow of fluid through said con uit,.a va ve normally held in open position by said flow to admit air direct from atmosphere to said conduit, a feeder for deliverin pulverulent material to said conduit, an e ectric motor for operating said feeder, and a switch operable by the closing movement of said valve to automatically stop said motor.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is a Xed hereto.

RAY O. NEQUSE. 

